When I first joined the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at my new school, I had no idea what I was getting myself into nor what my future would entail. One day my close friend suggested I attend one of their practices – which I did. As soon as I entered, my eyes were opened to a completely different environment, something I had never experienced before. The moment I opened the door, I saw men and women screaming at the top of their lungs in their attempt to do as many push-ups as their bodies would allow while their partners valiantly encouraged them. The noise accumulated by a group of around 30 people and reaching the sound equivalent of a homecoming football match. The look of agony on their faces irked me. As I and the other new participants watched in amazement, the practice then transitioned into “drilling,” a term I didn’t understand at the time. As the men swung their rifles and performed complex movements, the routine was perfectly synchronized and each movement was crisp and precise; it was obvious that they had done the same movement thousands of times. Despite how thorough the guys were, the whole team would be punished for the mistake of just one. I didn't understand. The screams, the dedication and the seriousness as a whole were completely foreign to me. So, I said to myself, why? Why were they hurting themselves trying to accomplish something that wasn't even a life or death task? Why were they working themselves to the point where they could drop dead at any moment? Why did they care so much? Little did I know that my questions would be answered during the first year as a cadet. Luckily, I continued to attend training and before I knew it, I... middle of paper ......ts to pass. I then took adjusting to the NJROTC lifestyle as a personal challenge. I understood the idea that when a person is as determined as they want to breathe and are willing to sacrifice their blood, sweat, tears, and even sleep, one can only succeed. After this realization, I was able to apply this essential rule on a daily basis. Not only did I receive the program's top freshman cadet award, but I also reached out and influenced my teammates by leading by example. Subsequently, I joined the varsity team and the junior varsity team cadets as a personal challenge to follow in my footsteps. It is the relentless commitment to success that preserves George Bush's long reign. As NJROTC Commander, it is now my duty to maintain this critical morale..